Container



Nov. 24, 1931. w, GEIME-R 1,833,675

CONTAINER Filed April 6, 1951 To OPEN PULL UP 'rms FLAP. cu-r OFF TIP fm/zrz 2502 I/V/LL/AM J. GEM/IE2 Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE WHQLLAM J. G-EIMER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO BEMIS BRO. BAG 00., OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A. CORPORATION OF MISSOURI CONTAINER Application filed April 6, 1931. Serial No. 528,049.

This invention relates to new and useful lmprovements in containers, generally, and more particularly to a container or bag provided with a simple and inexpensive means whereby the contents thereof may be discharged therefrom.

An object of the invention is to provide a container-whose walls are constructed of a flexible, foldable material such, for example,

as paper, having its mouth or open top adapted to be closed by folding the bag top walls inwardly, one over the other, and provided with a simple, inexpensive means whereby the contents of the container may be discharged therefrom without opening the'entire top of the bag or in other ways mutilating it.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a flexible bag or container rovided with an open top, the walls of whic are adapted to be folded, when the bag is filled with material, to provide a closure for the bag mouth, and having a score mark on a wall of the'bag top situated so as to be clearly visible when the bag top walls are folded into closing position, and suitable information being provided adjacent to said score mark stating that to open the bag, said marked wall portion may be unfolded and out or torn off along said'score line, whereby said unfolded wall portion ma be quickly converted into a pourmg s out or the bag.

A urther object is to providea container having a closed top composed of a plurality of inwardly folded flaps arranged in overlapping relation, and one of said flaps, when unfolded, being adapted to have a ortion thereof out off, whereby said flap may e converted into a pouring spout for the container.

A further object is to providea container or bag constructed of a flexible, foldable material and having its top closed by inwardly foldin the bag top'walls over the bag body, and w ereby a pair of o positely disposed flaps are provided, one 0 which comprises two or more thicknesses of material, said flaps being folded inwardly, one over the other, and suitably secured together, and the upper flap being adapted to be unfolded and to have its tip cut off whereby it may be utilized as a pouring spout for the bag, a score mark being provided on said foldable flap to indicate where to cut it, and also having thereon suitable instructions for unfolding and cutting.

- it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing. the

closed top of a container with the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the uppermost flap partially unfolded, and the tip thereof cut off;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a container showing it converted into a pouring spout for the container;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view showing the pouring spout;

Figure 5 is a plan View of an empty bag showing the score mark provided thereon and the instructions for unfolding and cutting off the tip of the flap;

Figure 6 is a view showing a container with its top partially closed;

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the next step in the ,folding of the bag top and which precedes the final operation shown in Figure 1.

In the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in the drawings, a container or bag comprising a body portion 2 and a bottom 3. The invention is particularly applicable to paper bags of the general character shown in Figure 5, and which, when filled with a suitable material as shown in Figure 6, usually have their open tops closed by inwardly folding the bag top walls, as illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 1. The bag top is closed by inwardly folding the oppositely disposed wall portions 4. and 5,

one over the other, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, whereby a pair of oppositely projecting flaps 6 and 7 are provided. A suitable adhesive 8 may be applied to the engaging surfaces of the wall portions 4 and 5, whereby these portions are secured together when folded to the positions shown in Figure 7. An adhesive 9 may also be applied to the upper surface of the flap 6 adapted to engage the upper surface of the inwardly folded wall portion 5 to secure it thereto. In like manner, the flap 7 is gummed, as indicated at 11 so that when it is folded inwardly over the flap '6, it will be secured thereto. By thus folding the bag top walls to. close the bag, the flaps 6 and 7 will be composed of a plurality of layers of material, as will readily be understood by reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 7.

To open a container or bag of the type herein disclosed, it has heretofore been common practice to separate all of the folded top wall portions and open the entire mouth of the bag. It is sometimes difiicult to do this because of the danger of tearing the bag walls. For such material as flour, for example, which is now being dispensed in a large degree in small bags or containers weighing from a pound to five pounds each, it is desirable that means be provided whereby the contents of such a bag may be removed therefrom without the necessity of having to open the entire mouth of the bag or tearing open the upper portion of the bag to get at the contents thereof.

The present invention provides means whereby a portion of a bag top folded in the manner illustrated in the drawings, may be quickly converted into a pouring spout to [facilitate the removal of the contents from the bag, without danger of mutilating or tearing the bag top wall.

To thus convert one of the folded bag top walls or flaps into a pouring spout for the container, the uppermost flap 7 of the closed bag top is provided with a score mark 12 which indicates approximately where the tip of the flap is to be out or torn off, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4. Suitable instructions, as indicated at 13 in Figures 1, 2, and 5, are also provided upon the fla 7 adjacent to the score mark 12, so that a housewife or user may readily understand how to convert the flap 7 of a filled bag into a pouring spout therefor.

To convert the flap 7 into a pouring spout, it is pulled upwardly out of engagement with the flap 6 to the position shown in Figure 2, after which its tip is severed therefrom by cutting or tearing along the dot-ted line or store mark 12, by suitable means such as an .ordinary pair of scissors.

The severed flap 7 is then moved outwardly to substantially the position shown in Figures'3 and 4, and a slight pressure applied to the sides of the bag at the points indicated by the arrows A and 13 in Figure 1, whereby the walls of the flap I itate the removal of the contents of the bag therefrom, in desired quantities, whenever necessary. When the pouring spout is not needed, the flap 7 may be folded inwardly to its normal position over the bag top, whereby the container is closed.

This inventionhas been found very useful in connection with small bags of the character herein disclosed, as it provides means whereby the contents of a bag may readily and conveniently be discharged therefrom in controlled quantities, and also whereby when the container is not in use, the pouring spout or flap 7 may be folded inwardly over the bag top in a position to substantially close the container.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bag made of flexible, foldable mateflap along which said flap may be severed to form a, pouring spout.

2. A bag made of flexible, foldable material having its top closed by inwardly folded end walls providing a pair of oppositely disposed flaps adapted to be folded one over the other and secured together to seal the bag, at least one of said flaps being composed of a plurality of plies of material adapted to be separated to provide a space communicating with the interior of the bag, said last mentioned flap being adapted to be unfolded from the other flaps, the said other flaps remaining in overlapping folded sealing relation, and a score mark defining a line of severance on said unfoldable flap along which said flap may be severed to form a pouring spout.

3. A bag made of flexible, foldable material having its top closed by inwardly folded end walls providing a pair of oppositely disposed flaps adapted to be folded one over the other and secured together to seal the bag, the uppermost flap being composed of a plurality of plies of material adapted to be separated to provide a space communicating with the interior of said bag, said uppermost flap being adapted to be unfolded from the other flaps, the said other flaps remaining in overlapping folded sealing relation, and a score mark defining a line of severance on said uppermost flap along which said flap may be severed to form a pouring spout.

- 15 last mentioned flap along which the tip of 4. A bag made of flexible, foldable material having its top closed by inwardly folded end walls providin a pair of oppositely disposed substantia y triangular flaps 5 adapted to be folded one over the other and secured together to sealthe bag, at least one i of said flaps being composed of a pluralit of plies of material adapted to be separate to provide a space communicating with the interior of the bag, said last mentioned flap being adapted to be'unfolded from the other flaps, the said other flaps remaining in overlapping folded sealing relation, and a score mark defining a line of severance on said said flap may be severed to form a pouring spout.

In witness whereof, I'have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of April, 1931. v o vWILLIAM GEIMER. 

